-
X-ray imaging of blood vessels
Angiography
-
X-ray recording of arteries after injection of a contrast substance into an artery
Arteriography
-
X-ray examinations with a liquid barium mixture to locate disorders in the esophagus (esophagogram), duodenum, small intestine (small bowel follow-through), and colon (barium enema).
Barium tests
-
Procedure in which a catheter (tube) is passed via vein or artery into the chambers of the heart to measure the blood flow out of the heart and the pressures and oxygen content in the heart chambers
Cardiac catheterization
-
X-ray recording of bile ducts
Cholangiography
-
Imaging of the heart by introducing high-frequency sound waves through the chest into the heart
Echocardiography
-
X-ray imaging of the esophagus performed after barium sulfate is swallowed
Esophagography
-
X-ray recording of the breast
Mammography
-
X-ray recording that shows an organ in depth
Tomography
-
Images are produced by beaming sound waves (not x-rays) into the body and capturing the echoes that bounce off organs
Ultrasonography
-
X-ray recording of the kidney and urinary tract
Urography
-
A radioactive substance is injected intravenously, and its uptake in bones is detected with a scanning device
Bone scan
-
A radioactive substance is injected intravenously. It collects in any lesion that disturbs the natural barrier that exists between blood vessels and normal brain tissue, allowing the radioactive substance to enter the brain tissue
Brain scan
-
Radioactive substances that release radioactive particles called positrons are injected and travel to specialized areas of the body. Because of the way in which the positrons are released, cross-sectional color pictures can be made showing the location of the radioactive substance
Positron emission tomography
-
Radioactive particles are injected intravenously and travel rapidly to areas of the lung that are adequately filled with blood. Regions of obstructed blood flow caused by tumor, blood clot, swelling, and inflammation can be seen as nonradioactive areas of the scan
Pulmonary perfusion scan
-
In a thyroid scan, radioactive iodine (the radiotracer) is injected intravenously or swallowed and then collects in the thyroid gland. A scanning device (probe) detects the radiotracer in the gland tissue, producing an image that shwos the size, shape, and position of the thyroid
Thyroid scan
-
Surgical punture to remove fluid from the sac (amnion) that surrounds the fetus in the uterus
Amniocentesis
-
Withdrawal of fluid by suction through a needle or tube
Aspiration
-
Test using sound waves of various frequencies (e.g., 500 Hz), up to 8000 Hz, to quantify the extent and type of hearing loss. The record produced by this test
Audiogram
-
Process of listening for sounds produced within the body. This is most often performed with the aid of a stethoscope to determine the condition of the chest or abdominal organs or to detect the fetal heartbeat
Auscultation
-
Removal of a piece of tissue from the body for subsequent examination under a microscope
Biopsy
-
Visual examination of the bronchial passages through a flexible tube (endoscope) inserted into the airway
Bronchoscopy
-
Inspection of an organ or body cavity through a thin, tube-like instrument (endoscope) inserted into the organ or cavity
Endoscopy
-
Examination of the abdominal cavity through an endoscope inserted into the abdomen
Laparoscopy
-
Connection of electrodes (wires or "leads") to the scalp to record electricity coming from within the brain
Electroencephalography
-
Examination by touch
Palpation
-
The technique of striking a part of the body with short, sharp taps of the fingers to determine the size, density, and position of the underlying parts by the sound obtained. Commonly used on the abdomen to examine the liver
Percussion
-
Insertion of a needle into the chest to remove fluid from the space surrounding the lungs (pleual cavity)
Thoracentesis
-
Measurement of the amount of albumin (protein) in both the serum and the urine.
Albumin
-
Test to determine whether infection is present in the bloodstream
Blood culture
-
Measurement of the amount of urea (nitrogen-containing waste material) in serum
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
-
Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid for protein, sugar, and blood cells. The fluid is also cultured to detect microorganisms
Cerebrospinal fluid
-
Measurement of the amount of cholesterol (substance found in animal fats and oils, egg yolks, and milk) in serum or plasma
Cholesterol
-
Determination of the numbers of leukocytes (white blood cells), erythrocytes (red blood cells), and platelets (clotting cells)
Complete blood count (CBC)
-
Identification of microorganisms in a special laboratory medium (fluid, solid, or semisolid material)
Culture
-
Measurement of the amount of creatinine, a nitrogen containing waste material, in serum or plasma. It is the most reliable test for checking kidney function
Creatinine
-
Determination of the concentration of electrolytes (chemical substances capable of conducting an electric current) in serum or whole blood
Electrolytes
-
Measurement of the amount of sugar in serum and plasma
Glucose
-
Measurement of the concentration of hemoglobin in blood
Hemoglobin assay
-
Measurment of the percentage blood volume occupied by red blood cells
Hematocrit
-
Determination of the number of clotting cells (platelets) in a sample of blood
Platelet count
-
Measurement of the concentration of potassium in serum
Potassium
-
Determination of the amount of simple fats in the serum
Triglycerides
-
Measurement of the amount of uric acid (a nitrogen containing waste material) in the serum and urine
Uric Acid
-
Determination of the number of leukocytes in the blood
White blood cell (WBC) count
-
-
before meals (ante cibum)
ac
-
right ear (auris dexter); Alzheimer disease
AD
-
freely as desired (ad libitum)
ad lib
-
anteroposterior (front to back)
AP or A/P
-
ausculation and percussion
A&P
-
arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASHD
-
left ear (auris sinister); aortic stenosis
AS
-
each ear (auris uterque)
AU
-
twice a day (bis in die)
bid
-
-
benign prostatic hypertrophy (hyperplasia)
BPH
-
blood urea nitrogen ( test of kidney function)
BUN
-
-
-
coronary artery bypass graft
CABG
-
coronary artery disease
CAD
-
-
-
coronary care unit; critical care unit
CCU
-
-
congestive heart failure
CHF
-
-
-
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPD
-
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPR
-
culture and sensitivity (testing)
C&S, C+S
-
-
computed tomography scan (x-ray images in cross-sectional view)
CT scan
-
cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CVA
-
-
dilation (dilatation) and curettage (of the uterine lining)
D&C
-
differential (percentages of types of white blood cells)
diff.
-
-
electrocardiography
ECG (EKG)
-
electroencephalography
EEG
-
emergency room; estrogen receptor
ER
-
-
end-stage renal disease
ESRD
-
ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
ETOH
-
-
fever of unknown (undetermined)origin
FUO
-
-
-
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GERD
-
-
-
-
-
-
human immunodeficiency virus
HIV
-
at bedtime (hora somni)
h.s.
-
hypertension (high blood pressure)
HTN
-
-
incision and drainage
I&D
-
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
ICU
-
intramuscular; infectious mononucleois
IM
-
intake and ouput (measurement of patient's fluid)
I&O
-
-
intravenous pyelography
IVP
-
-
-
kidneys, ureters, bladder (x-ray study without contrast)
KUB
-
-
-
left lower quadrant (of the abdomen)
LLQ
-
-
-
-
myocardial infarction (heart attack)
MI
-
-
-
-
no known allergies
NKA (NKDA)
-
nothing by mouth (nil per os)
NPO
-
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSAID
-
normal sinus rhythm (of the heart)
NSR
-
-
right eye (ocular dexter); doctor of optometry
OD, O.D.
-
-
open reduction plus internal fixation (to set a broken bone)
ORIF
-
left eye (oculus sinister)
OS
-
each eye (oculus uterque)
OU
-
-
posteranterior (back to front); pulmonary arter
PA
-
after meals (post cibum)
pc, p.c.
-
pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation
PERRLA
-
position emission tomography
PET
-
afternoon (post meridiem); postmortem
PM
-
-
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; postnasal drip
PND
-
-
as needed (pro re nata)
prn
-
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (balloon angioplasty)
PTCA
-
premature ventricular contraction (abnormal hearth rhythm)
PVC
-
-
each hour (quaque hora)
qh
-
four times a day (quaque secunda hora)
qid, q.i.d.
-
quantity sufficient (quantum sufficit)
q.s., qs
-
red blood cell (count)
RBC, rbc
-
right lower quadrant (of the abdomen)
RLQ
-
-
-
treatment; therapy; prescription (recipe)
Rx
-
-
immediately (statim)
STAT, stat
-
-
transient ischemic attack
TIA
-
three times a day (tris in die)
tid, t.i.d.
-
total parenteral nutrition (IV solution to maintain nutrition)
TPN
-
transurethral resection of the prostate gland
TUR, TURP
-
-
-
upper gastrointestinal
UGI
-
upper respiratory infection
URI
-
ultrasound (imaging examination)
US, u/s
-
urinary tract infection
UTI
-
vital signs; versus
VS, V/S
-
white blood cell (count)
WBC, wbc
-
-
-
-
|
|